Car-coupling



(No Model.)

'e G. H. SMITH.

GAR eoUPLiNG.

No. 519,205. Patented May 1, 1894.

me-n

` Eel w/NEssEsf ATTORNEYS.

l will prevent the draw-head from falling upon 1 t 4UNITED i STATESPATENTA OFFICE. l

cHARLEsI-I. SMITH, oF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters '.Patent1N0. 519,205, dated May 1,1894.

Application met August 11,1893. serai No. 482,884. (naman.)

.To all whom #may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SMITH, of Birmingham, in the county ofJefferson and State of Alabama, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Car-Couplings, `of which thefollowing is a full, clear,and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in car couplings of thesidelatching type, and has for its objects, to provide j a car couplingof the type indicated, with novel, simple and reliable means forconnecting such a coupling with the elongated coupling link of an ordi-`nary link and pin car coupling, and also to provide a simple attachmentvfor the drawhead of a side latching car coupling, which the railroadtrack in case said draw-head becomes detached from the car frame at itsrear end; and a novel means for unooupling a partly detached draw-head.,l To these ends my invention consists in the construction of novelfeatures and theircombination with other parts, as is hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Reference is to be `had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in'all the figures. p

Figure l is a broken perspective view of one end ofthe frame of a earwith the improved car coupling therewith. Fig. 2 isa Vbroken sectionalplan view of part of the front end of a drawhead, a link in `part,and apivoted latch jaw partly broken away,showing a feature of theimprovement, the section beis a front view of the end of adraw head, andthe latch jaw thereon, having a feature of the improvement in coupledconnection with a link shown in section. Fig. ltis a sectional plan viewof parts shownin Fig. 2, the latch jaw being released and swung intoaposition to release a coupling link; and Fig. 5}is a reverse plan viewof the latch jaw, in section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3.

The drawhead A, shown in the drawings, is one form for this main part ofacar coupling of the side latching type that is well adapted toreceivethe features of improvement, which latter are not restricted intheir application to the` particular draw-head represented, as

lothers of the same type can be readily ufitted with the novelfeatures,` if their `coupling latch-blocks are secured with averticallyadj ustable key, a large proportion of side latching car couplings beingso provided.

` The draw-headbody A, is elongated, and t cylindrical in its rearportion which projects 1 below a car frame B, asshown in Fig. 1, and isspring cushioned at the rear end by a spring a, and also by i anotherspring b, the latter 4encircling a guide rod c, that projects from thedraw-head front portion rearwardly, parallel with and above' thecylindrical body, to

engage the car frame timbers at each end in the manner usual for such aspring cushioning device. d The forward portion of the draw-head A, iswidened and furoated to produce two horns A', A2, and suitably recessedthroughout the body toplightenit and adapt it to receive a latch blockC, at the front and `which is pivoted by the vertical bolt d, to the jawA.

The draw-head A is loosely sustainediu po` sition below the car frame B,so as to have its i lfront portion projected `in advance of the l`cresstirnber B', by a depending looped strap `e, that embraces andloosely retains the drawhead body against the under side of the crosstimber upon which the ends of the straps e, are afiixed, the bodyA beingsquared where the strap embraces it.

The spring A is supported on the bolt a', which is axially projectedfrom the rear end of the draw-head; said spring is divided into twosections, these similar springs engaging their nearest` ends with atransverse buffer plate a2, through which the bolt a projects,

said plate having its end portions that extend each side of the bolt, inloose contact with a pair of guide bars a3, that hang from the stringereof the carframe parallel with the draw-head body, which bars serve tocarry the rear portion of the draw-head andattachments thereto; thedescribedconstructioniof parts being in common `use is not presented asnew in this connection.

The latch block C, is mainly of the ordinary form, comprising a body ofbell-crank shape, having a long limb, and a shorter limb projectedsubstantially at a right angle from the long limb,and slottedhorizontally near its center between topand bottom sides, producing twoparallel ears f, f of about an equal thickness.

The latch block C, is pivoted to the horn A', forwardly on the latter,and at the point where the furcated limb of the block joins the longerlimb, by the bolt CZ before mentioned, that passesthrough the horn andlatch block, so that when the long limb of the latter is rearwardlyprojected, and engaged by the vertically adjustable key D, the furcatedlimb of the block will be extended partly across the space between thehorns A', A2, for a locked connection with a similar latch block onanother car coupling.

Ordinarily, the ears f, f are vertically perforated to receive acoupling pin, when the latch block of a sidelatching car coupling is tobe connected to a common link and pin coupling, the elongated link insuch a case being introduced between the ears and the ordinary couplingpin inserted through the ears and link. The perforation of the ears onthe latch block weakens them, and in service percussion is likely tobreak the latchingjaw of the coupling.

One feature of this improvement is to provide means for reliablyconnecting an ordinary coupling link with the ears of the latch blockand avoid their perforation. The construction of parts to effect theobject mentioned, consists of a locking knob g,that is formed on theupper surface of the lower ear, f, and which is of a sufficient heightto project above the height of a coupling link such as E, when thelatter is engaged with said knob. The projection g, is mainly of an ovalcontour, and is located so that one of its sides will conform with theend wall of the ear it is formed upon and that is opposite the innerwall h which defines the limit of furcation for the cars f,f, as isplainly shown in Fig. 3. The vertical wall of the portion g of the knobg, that is rearward when the latch block C, is in the locked conditionshown in Fig. 2, is rounded on its face, and affordsa shoulder ofsuilicient height to retain the end of the link when it is made toengage therewith as represented in Fig. 2, there being sufficient spaceprovided between the knob gand wall h, to freely admitone side memberofthe coupling link E, when it is to be coupled with the latch block C.The ovate side g2 of the knob g, that is nearest to the wall h, is cutaway to slope it from the top surface toward said wall and also on thefront edge of the knob, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, which will adapt theknob to lift and release the link E, when the latch block C, is releasedand permitted to l swing into the position indicated in Fig. 4, as

the sloped wall will then be toward the end of the link 'and draftstrain applied tothe latter will cause it to slide upwardly andoutwardly off of the knob. p

To lock the link E, upon the knob g, a depending projection or boss t',is formed on the lower side of the upper ear j", iillingthe outer cornerwhich said ear forms with the wall h,

or said boss may extend around to ll both corners, as shown in Fig. 5.As shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, and full lines in Fig. 5, the bosst', is curved inwardly on its side that is adjacent to the curved end ofthe link E when the latter is in place on the latch block and the blockis swung into the position indicated in Fig. 4, which adjustment ofparts will allow the link to be readily placed on or removed from thelatch knob. The boss t', is projected downwardly and has its lowersurface in about the same plane with the upper face of the knob g, asshown in Fig. 3, so that when the latch block is adjusted to permit itslong limb to be locked by the key D, the link E, will have one of itsparallel members partly covered by the outer corner 1l of the boss,which will be close enough to the upper side of the link to prevent arelease of the latter, which can only be effected when the key D isremoved from a locking contact with the latch block, .and said block isswung into the position shown in Fig. 4, as, above explained.v

It sometimes occurs, that the bolt a that sustains the rear end of thedraw-head becomes broken by accident, and thus permits the coupleddraw-head to be pulled out and.

fall upon the railroad track, which if lstruck by the wheels of the carmay derail it.

To avoid the possible loss of life and property that might result fromthe sudden rupture of connections between the draw-head and car frame, asimple device is provided and is a feature of thisimprovement,consisting of a double plate clamp F, that'is constructed as shown inFig. l the two similar bent plates comprising the clamp being fitted tothe cylindrical body of the draw-head rearwardly of the looped strap eand secured upon the drawhead by the transverse bolts m, that passthrough holes in the straight parts of the clamp, which project a properlength from the curved portions of the same. "lVhen the clamp F, is inposition on the draw-head, if the latter becomes detached at its rearend from its connection with the car frame, the forward draft of thedraw-head will be arrested by an impinge of the clamp on the rear edgeof the strap e, so that the complete removal vof the draw-head from thecar frame will be prevented.

The usual means provided for the elevation of the locking key asufficient degree to release the latch block C, consists ofahorizontally supported rock shaft o, that is adapted to rock on the endof -the car or its frame, having an arm o', at its inner end above thekey to which it is iexibly connected by a chain or like means, the outerend of the rock shaft having a handle 02, formed on or secured to it formanipulation and elevation of the key. y y l y Y To adapt the ordinaryhand-,operated device just described, for the automatic release of adraw-head that is damaged in its attachyment to the car frame, and thussever itsconnection with the car coupling it has been coupled with,there is a simple attachment provided which forms another feature of theinvention, comprising a laterally projected plate p that is secured tothe drawhead by the bolt d, and from which extends a chain r, that hasits other end attachedto the lower end of an arm s, that is secured at aproper point on the rock shaft o.

It will be seen that if the draw-head A becomes detached from the carframe B at its rear end, and slides so that the clamp F `is lbroughtinto contact with the looped strap e,

or the transverse end-sill B of the car frame the forward movement ofthe draw-head will rock the arm S outwardly, and the other arm oupwardly, which will sufficiently elevate the key D, to release thelatch block C and will impinge the strap or car frame when the drawheadis abnormally drawn forward, subn stantially as described.

2. In a car coupling, the combination with a drawhead, of ahorizontally-slotted latch block pivoted therein, the lower ear of saidblock having a knob projected upward therefrom, and the upper ear havinga depending boss being adapted to lock a coupling link to the drawhead,substantially as described.

3. In a car coupling of the character described, the horizontallyslotted latch block pivoted in the drawhead, the lower ear of said blockhaving an upwardly projecting knob thereon, one side of` which isinclined,` and the upper ear having a depending boss formed with aconcaved outer face opposing the sloped` side of the knob, substantiallyas described.

4. In a car coupling, the combination with a drawhead supportedto slideon acar frame, a latch block pivoted to laterally vibrate on thedrawhead, and a vertically slidable'key for said block, of a rock shaftjournaled on the car above the drawhead, a horizontal arm on the shaftloosely connected tothe key, adevice for rocking the shaft bymanipulation, and a depending arm on said shaft loosely connected to theforward end of the drawhead and which will rock theshaft and lift thekey when the drawhead is abnormally drawn forward, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a car coupling, the combination with a drawhead, a latch blockpivoted thereon, a locking key for said block, a rock shaft journaled ontheframe of the oar, an arm thereon flexibly connected to the key, and acrank handle on one end of said shaft, of a second arm depending fromthe shaft, a plate projected from the side of the front portion of thedrawhead, and a iexible connection between the plate and the dependingarm on j the rock shaft, substantially as described.

` 6. In a car coupling, the combination with 75 a drawhead, and alaterally swinging latch block pivoted thereto, of a knob upwardlyprojected from the jaw on the free end ofthe blcck,and a projection onthe block arranged to. lock a coupling `link on the knob when the latch,block is secured. from swinging, sub- 8o stantially as described. y

CHARLES H. SMITH.

Witnesses: B. E. MCGURK,` T. J. WATERS.

